Means for covering manholes.



PATENTED AUG. 27

H. R. BRAIN. MEANS FOR COVERING MANHOLES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 2, 1006.

PATENTBD AUG. 27, 1907.

H. R. BRAIN. MEANS FOR COVERING MANHOLBS.

APPLICATION FILED IIULYZ, 190s.

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No. mama H. R. BRAIN. MEANS FOR COVERING MANHOL APPLIOATION FILED JULY 2, 1906.

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No. 864,605. PATENTED AUG. 27, 1907.

H. R. BRAIN. MEANS FOR COVERING MANHOLES.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 2,1906.

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HENRY RICHARD BRAIN, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

MEANS FOR COVERING MANHOLES.

. Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 27, 1907.

Application filed July 2. 1906. Serial No. 324.487.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY RICHARD BRAIN, residing at 37 Orchard 'Place', Blackwall, London, E., England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Means for Covering Manholes in Boilers, Tanks, and the Like; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a new or improved method of and means for covering manholes in boilers, tanks and the like, the object being to provide a simple and efficient device whereby a manhole cover can be more quickly placed in position and a perfect joint or fit insured under high pressure than with the method at present in use, while this invention obviates the necessity of employing a large number of bolts, the manipulation of which is a long and laborious process.

In order that this invention may be fully understood it will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein various forms of covers constructed according to this invention are illustrated by way of example, and in which I Figure l is a partial sectional elevation showing a manhole cover constructed according to this invention, in position, Fig. 2 is a complete plan thereof, Fig. 3 is a plan of a manhole with the cover removed, showing the parts hereinafter referred to, Fig. 4 is a similar view to Fig. 1 illustrating a slightly modified form of cover, Figs. 5 to 8 show further modified forms of application,

Figs. 9 to 13 are sectional elevations of various methods I of forming atight joint as hereinafter described and Figs. 14 dz 15 are diagrammatic views illustrating a manhole cover applied to a cylindrical and a rectangular tank respectively.

As shown in the drawings and referring particularly to Figs. 1 to 3 a manhole a of circular form is formed in the surface of the tank or the like, or a plate riveted thereto, is surrounded by a corrugation a The manhole cover b is correspondingly circumferentially corrugatedas at b in such a manner that when placed over the manhole a the corrugations a b coincide and a ring of packing material 0 interposed between the said corrugations a, bl, renders the joint quite tight when the cover b is held rigidly down.

In order to secure the cover b in position a bridge plate d preferably of circular form spans the manhole within the tank or the like and this bridge plated carries a bolt d secured thereto which passes up through the cover b and is engaged by a nut al designed to screw down upon the cover b thus drawing it. and the bridge plate d towards one another and firmly locking them,

' a ring of suitable packing material e being preferably placed between the nut d and the cover b.

The bridge plate (1 being detachable it is necessary that means be provided for holding it in position while the cover b is being placed over the manhole and to this .end a slot or recess f is formed at each side of the bridge plate d. These slots enable the bridge plate to be inserted through the manhole which when of circular form would render this otherwise impossible, the bridge plate being of larger diameter. After the insertion of the bridge plate one slot f therein is engaged by a pin 9 carried by the periphery a and formed with a head 9 which supports one side of the bridge plate (I, the opposite slot f therein engaging a second pin h which prevents it turn ing, a pivoted button or tongue 1' carried by the bridge plate d being then turned over to engage the edge of the manhole as shown, thus supporting the oppositeside of the bridge plate d until the cover b is secured in position as hereinbefore described. In Fig. 3

the bridge plate d is shown cut across the center, the

5 /& 6 theLcover b is shown cut across diametrically showing part of the bridge plate (I in plan.

Fig. 7 illustrates a form of bridge plate and cover preferred when they are constructed of light material while Fig. 8 diagrammatically illustrates a cover,ap-

plied to a manhole formed in a body. having a curved or partially spherical surface, according to this invention.

Figs. 9 to 13 show by way of example the various forms of corrugations which may be formed in the covers and bridge plates, some being sunk as seen in Figs. 9 & 11 and others raised upon the surface of the tank or the like as in Figs. 10, 12 & 13.

Figs. 14 & 15 illustrate as hereinbefore stated the application of the manhole cover to a cylindrical tank 3' and a rectangular tank 7:, respectively. 7

In some cases if preferred when the manhole is of oval form asshown in Figs. 5 dz 6, the parts may be reversed, that is to say, the cover b be arranged inside the manhole and the bridge plate d outside, and secured together as hereinbefore described, but with this arrangement the pivoted button or tongue 2 and the pins 9 & h are designed to operate in connection with the cover instead ofthe bridge plate as hereinbcfore set forth.

I wish it to be understood that I am aware that it has previously been proposed to form covers or lids for various receptacles with corrugations designed to engage corresponding corrugations formed in the receptacles and with or without packing interposed, while. it has also been proposed to brace the two ends of a tank or the like by means of a bolt passing therethrough, but to these broadly I make no claim, the essential feature of my invention being the method of securing a manhole cover formed with corrugations in the manner described,

in position, so that a joint capable of withstanding great pressure is produced.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

' 1. The combination, with a shell pla te provided with a hole, of a plate arranged on one side of the said shellplate and provided with a pivoted tongue at one edge for engaging the said shelhplate, means for supporting the opposite edge of the said plate from the said shell-plate, a plate arranged on the other side of the said shell plate. and means for clamping the said shell-plate between the two said plates to form a joint.

2. The combination, with a shell-plate provided with a hole, a supporting pin having a head arranged at one side of the said hole, and a guide pin arranged at the other side of the said hole; 0!. a plate arranged on one side of the said shell-plate and provided with a pivoted tongue and slots for engaging the said shelLplate and its pins respectively, a plate arranged onthe other side of the said shell-plate, and means for clamping the said shell-plate between the two said plates to form a joint.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence 7 of two witnesses.

HENRY RICHARD BRAIN.

Witnesses:

Gonrnnr Blm'r'rnnn SHEPHERD, CLAUDE HORACE (1|AGGERS.' 

